@John

Julian attempted on several call in shows to make the point you just made with great difficulty.

He was ‘bleeped’ out.

It would indeed be interesting to establish if this were true.

It would indeed be an injustice of a high level perpetrated on a citizen of Barbados.

We all know how passionate Julian is about the outdoors and nature his eccentricity not withstanding.

In fact we often wonder if his company, The Outdoor Club which was prominent in the early 90s is still active.

Letter to all involved and especially to the Minister written prior to the meeting at Warrens:
Dear Mr. Kellman:
Apart from the fact that there is supposed to be legislation in place to stop the ‘murdering’ of trees of a certain girth, I would like to add my ‘two cents’ to all those who have bitterly opposed the cutting of the tree in question up at Warrens. Trees give us life, air to breathe, and God knows that in this little island of ours, we need as much as we can get!!
Personally I think this tree can be saved, like the others, all of them given a plaque explaining what their botanical name is, and why they are special – also that they were saved in 2011 by the people of Barbados. A great historic moment for the island. Tourists I am sure would love to visit and what a great lesson for the children of our rock!
If the developers cannot figure out how to do this, Sir, may I offer my design services for free. It certainly would not take a rocket scientist! But if we continue with this continuous devastation of our nature, we will soon be called the capital of concrete. And we will need many rocket scientists to envelop us in green again so that we may take a breath every now and then.
“Welcome to Barbados. Visit all our concrete and enjoy!” This might have to be our next tourism thrust if we continue in this vein. The developers should be ashamed and whatever section of government sanctioned the abomination, also! We the people are speaking. DO NOT ALLOW THIS.

Having written the above to Minister Kellmann, I have also signed the petition making its rounds on Facebook to ensure that the Silk Cotton Tree is definitely saved and have said the following as a comment: “For the sake of generations to come we need to ensure that history is not totally annihilated from our island. History is an important fact for all people – whether good or bad. These trees are a symbol of the survival of our people. These trees are a symbol now of the strength and conviction of our people. These trees are a spiritual source & there are stories to tell around them. These trees symbolize unity. These trees show us that there is hope for this island. Most of all these trees help us to breathe. The area could be a tourist attraction that can pay for the price of change and a place of reflection for all of us who live in and love Barbados. They simply cannot go. Or we will have lost all of the above.”

Further, I believe that if in fact this tree is definitely saved from its death penalty, that yes! we should name the area Centennial Passage, ensuring that Agyeman Kofi is honoured as well as the people of Barbados for standing up and fighting for what is right. It shows the power of what we can do. And there is so much to be done for the good of the island. We want this island to be pure, we want this island to be safe, we want this island to be healthy. Simple things in life that matter.

I would also like to propose further that all bearing fruit trees not be allowed to be destroyed and that legislation be put in place to state that every householder must have at least one fruit tree of their choice planted in their garden. Also, that the highways and byways (roundabouts for instance) of this island, instead of having only “pretty” shrubs and trees, should have fruit trees planted with a sign giving their botanical names and local names. What joy! Do people realize that most of the tourist that come down here have never even seen a pawpaw, mango, ackee, dunk, gooseberry tree etc etc??? never looked upon what we take for granted?? I know the first thing everyone will scream about is the ‘tiefing’ that will go on…well that can also be rectified…life can have simple solutions.

I am just so proud of Barbadians today….yes! yes! yes!

@Rosemary

Thanks for the update on Julian, have always enjoyed his passion on matters pertaining to the environment.

What you have written about his current state is indeed very sad and speaks volumes to how we (Barbadians) view the environment.

Here is an excerpt from a submission I made in Dec.2008 (on BFP) re one of the Baobab trees.
*************
Barbados can’t compete in terms of physical beauty with some of the other tourist destinations in the Caribbean so it must build on its strength which is in the main the warm and friendly people, low serious crime rate and excellent communications and stable political climate. The Harrison’s Caves of the world are great to visit but how about promoting some other things many of us pay little or no attention to e.g. the Baobab tree in Queen’s Park which is the oldest living thing that I have seen. Last time I was there some English visitors off a cruise ship were enjoying its magnificent splendour. I know there another one in the Warren’s area but are there any other examples in the Caribbean? Think of what the world was like when this tree was a sapling, I know there is a plaque with some details but the authorities could do a better job beautifying the area
*********************
I pay a pilgrimage to that tree on every visit, I also revel in the sights and smells of many other plant species on the Island. I’m all for progress but we shouldn’t destroy the things that contribute to the natural beauty of the country in the name of development. There were many “woods” which were once filled with mahogany and other trees which have largely disappeared under the bulldozer’s shovel. We should act before it’s too late

Environmentalists are always never taken seriously in Barbados.

We have people of the stature of Dr. Karl Watson who has been trying his damnest to bring awareness to the issues.

His last commentary was the urban sprawl which has taken root in Barbados at the expense of everything in its path.

Perhaps we can cap the argument by observing who was given responsibility for the environment. It is never given to a high profile minister.

For those who have Facebooks Accounts there is a petition in place. Sign up!

A concerned citizen looked into the laws of the land, and found that indeed according to the laws of this here Barbados, a tree is a living being (described so within these same said laws)…and these same laws do describe the size of trunk, bark etc (apparently) that does not allow anyone to “kill” (my words but pretty close to the reality) a tree. i.e. it is against the law to destroy large old trees unless found to be dying. Hmmm. Wonder how many people should be up at Dodds as we speak for murder!!

On another point…I would like to commend another brave Barbadian, pensioner Movita Field, who took a stand with reference to her having to pay a deposit on egg cartons that were non-refundable (and do not carry that charge from the producers of those said cartons and eggs as well). Because of this eggs can now be purchased free of this unfair charge placed on the consumer by one of our largest supermarket chains. Oh! Boy! Barbadians are coming out of their nap (it was only a nap guys)…now we see what we can do…how about standing up to banning Monsanto, GMO products, chemicals in our foods and and and….ahhhh…the power we have as consumers could make this little island perfect!! @David…do you think the march is on?

Agyeman Kofi

Note, the spin of Mr Pandor,during our discourse in the presence of others and the Barbadostoday reporter was this figure mention. So in a private interview it seems this is now on the table. Oh how convenient as I said in an earlier post we need to convince Mr Pandor of a wholistic approach

MONEY TREE

news.barbadostoday.bb

It’s going to take an estimated $1 million to save the silk cotton tree which is at the centre of controversy in the Greater Warrens Traffic Safety Improvement Project.

Today you do not have to put a chain saw or an axe to a tree to kill it. I have seen trees go from very healthy to dead, dead , in 3 to 4 days. Contractors I am sure are aware of the deadly chemical which kill these trees. So the fight with the Sand Box tree is not quite over yet.

Until Barbadians understand the role of the enviroment and its contribution to man”s everyday survival. To them it would be just another tree. Government has done very little in thearea of keeping a clean enviroment . An unhealthy enviroment leads to debilating disease. A tree or trees hepls to contain many of the pollution we bearth everyday. If we continue to cut them down at the pace we are goiing we would not be the wiser for it.

I Kammie Holder renamed Kofi Agyeman by an old lady in a village in Kumasi, Ghani declare I am sound mind and have never been certified insane. Yes, I am sort of an enigma who just believe in doing the right things to make the world a better place. As a student of Kellonomics, I like to swim up stream and think outside the square.

I coordinated 350 Persons, Planting 350 Trees in 350 Seconds at Morgan Lewis in 2009 which was shown at the UN and now referenced by Universities worldwide. Trees are more than just wood!

My birthday is the 1st of April and I don`t know why I does always crazy things like jump off of buildings then to realize ah aint got nuh parachute. People does always tell me I miserable and too persistent, but I does tell them mediocrity and laziness leads to poverty.

I was raised by my grandmother in Cliff St John, god bless she old soul and we had ah acre and half of agriculture land, so ah had to bring in de sheep and de rope always had a strong smell, so I know about planting and farming. Me granny had a acre of sugar cane and we planted bananas, sweet potato, yam, coconuts, vegetables and breadfruit for our own consumption.

Three thing me granny always told me, always be honest, never let deceitfulness overcome truthfulness and always respectfully speak your mind. Never follow de crowd, its too crowded.

On a serious note about yesterday,it was not about politics but creating and preserving our heritage for Barbadians of the future. Sometimes we must break ranks, lest we will have many regrets on our dying bed. Neither was yesterday a victory as we need to deal with the naysayers and work on preserving the Boabab tree. Thus the government needs to tell the people what arrangements have being made to ensure there has been no environmental impact from the cement or waste from construction of the First Citizens building to the Boabab tree.

All I ask is that the good faith shown by the Minister of Transport & Works infect his technocrats. In life you stand for something or fall for anything. Therefore, call me mischievous or whatever but I am Bajan and that gives me a right to have say in my country’s affairs.

Tree huggers are not mad, we just respect mother earth.

It is like Malik’s calypso …… “A Madman”!!

That is about as clear a vision as you can ever get!!

As far as I know, there is no question about the Baobab tree being saved. The original design for the road improvement project that was outlined at the Town hall meeting at Queen’s college a few months ago made it clear that they were designing the roundabout around the baobab tree. It is the Silk Cotton tree that is directly opposite the Baobab at the SW end of One Accord Plaza and sited on the edge of the gully there, that is the tree at risk.

The Baobab tree is 276 years old, having been planted from a seed or seedling imported from Senegal, Africa in 1735. The Silk Cotton tree could well be of similar age or might even be substantially older.

The Silk Cotton tree, or God tree, is known in folklore and history as a sacred tree. It can grow to an extraordinary age (there is a well documented one in the DR (that looks a lot like the Warrens one) that was still standing up to 3 years ago and was, reportedly, the tree to which Christopher Columbus tied one of his boats in the 1492 voyage of discovery. It was worshipped as a sacred tree by our ancestors on both sides of the Atlantic, West Africa as well as Central America. Even today in several caribbean countries the tree is venerated to the extent that it is very difficult to get someone to cut one down, except in Barbados where we have lost many of our ancient traditions.

This thread has some excellent ideas by Kofi Ageyman and Rosemary Parkinson that could form the basis of justifying the redesign of the project to save both trees. It seems really strange that it could cost 1 million dollars to do what appears to be a minor redesign since the trees are so close together. I think we should lobby that government should get a detailed breakdown of those costs and not just accept that blanket pandor figure that seems to have been thrown up in the air to scuttle any further action for keeping both trees.

I think the BU family should thank Minister Boyce for his very quick response and his appearing to be amenable with the side of conservation and preservation of our environment as well as the socio-cultural aspects of this development. We should continue to keep prodding him however, to ensure that other forces do not easily ease him away from the path he now seems willing to tread.

Both trees must be saved.

“I think the BU family should thank Minister Boyce for his very quick response and his appearing to be amenable …”

checkit-out

I plan to lick you down wid a big rock and stomp up pun yah head, but I change my mind so you should thank me for my very quick response and my appearing to be amenable …!

I don’t accept the excuse that it is going to take 1 million dollars to save the tree. The idiotic engineers knew that the tree was there long before they were born. In their initial planning they should have taken the tree into account. But no the fools felt “we can just cut it down, it is only a tree”

Bad planning.

Somebody should take the $1 million out of the engineers pockets.

Fools.

I don’t know if any body recalls about 20 years ago some fools planned to cut down the lovely stand of mahoganies that grow opposite the Mental. The people protested and and the trees were not cut down, instead the Mental wall was shifted in about 20 feet and the lovely trees are still there.

I agree with you Hants. But look at the group that started the Heritage Trust plaque on buildings…these are not supposed to be knocked down either…but in the middle of the night it is done, and then there is no recourse but to sue. Sue? Here? Years and years later…..? What good will dat do? Heavy immediate fines is what is required for those who are behind these abominations. These are the things that once the Minister’s attention is had, should be immediately placed before him. (1) More respect and adherence to the laws regarding trees and buildings with heavy penalties to those who indiscriminately “kill” them. Treat it as murder because that is what it is and (2) The making and enforcement of a law requiring all householders to at least have one fruit tree and one other tree (be it a flowering or not!) planted in their yard. Why not eh? Hopefully we will all be given good notice as to when the next meeting is to be held, so that we can all rally to the cause. I, unfortunately, all ready to move towards Warren got held back with a meeting, then with a conference call…so missed the historic meeting on the road…was not able to hug the tree but…one thing I know…my spirit was there and my body gine deifnitely be at the meeting with the Minister. It is important for all lovers of this island to show support. I just love those trees and have stopped so many times to take photos…was horrified when I saw all that construction going on and had a feeling…but guess what…that feeling feels better today, thanks to Mr. Kofi and the rest of Barbados who ensure that at least a stay of execution was granted. The fight is still one because Mr. Pandor, dear sweet little heart (and I mean that) has suddenly come up with that million dollar deal (does anyone talk thousands any more?)…but that can also be overcome. Watch us!!!

@Hants

Your comment is not fair. All over facebook Barbadians are being mobilized. Both Kellman and Boyce (ministers) are engaged.

Frankly I feel that Kellman and Boyce ARE two trees that need removing …!

@Rosemary

As you know BU and several blogs are fully integrated with Facebook reported to have 109,000 Bajan membership.

The point here is social media is making a difference.

Yesterday David of BU participated on a Facebook page where we exchanged some robust views with Minister Kellman on the CLICO matter.

Our points are being heard in the highest places, we have to make sure there is value in the points, we have to ensure there is followup. We have to keep the pressure up!

@David. The work done by the social media and blogs like BU – so darned important!!! And I commend you David, mostly because you are not ‘scared’ or ‘intimidated’ by what has to be said. I have seen a big turn around from the day I began joining in the conversation when it comes to food/health/environment etc. I know lots of people read but do not comment. I feel there is change in the air. You do not quit David. I will not quit either.

@ac. My dream is to see a totally environmentally friendly Barbados. We need to get back to the days when people travelled here for their health (even Washington came here with his ill brother when it took months to get here… for crying out loud). On many of my first trips to Barbados (when I could talk that is) I often questioned my mother where did Bajans put their garbage…we never saw any and coming from Venezuela, this was so strange to me. Now, this can no longer be asked. It is put in gullies, on the side of the road, in cane pieces, in the sea…anywhere to be honest. So yes! the time has come to clean up.
There is recycling but we need more. In Europe it is mandatory to have a bin for veggies etc. (compost), one each for plastic, glass (green, white, brown) and paper. We should start at least by composting for our gardens…

As I have said before the time has come to make Barbados organic also, as self-sufficent as it can be when it comes to food & health with what is deemed ‘alternative medicine’ (I say the chemicals are the alternatives, as the natural came first) going hand in hand with science. No more Monsanto. No more hormones and antibiotics in our feeds (by the way David we never did get an answer from Roberts did we (or did we?))…I have heard that Gales’s stands firm on their “no hormones, no antibiotics” stand but chickens on their feed are selling size within 5 weeks – they then claim it is the breed (can I laugh out loud now…ha ha haaaaaa! – although it would not surprise me to learn that chickens have been scientifically modified to grow huge and fat in 5 weeks!).

Oh! How wonderful it would be to know that we no longer have a huge health bill…and that we can proudly say we are pure, clean, green and loving it. And what a message we could send to the rest of the world. What a great legacy to leave behind by any government that implements these simple changes.

I must stop. Because I do rattle on. I am passionate about this. But gotta go and paint…exhibition looming…David hope you will be there! And any others into art. Facebook has the event up, and Ace cards will soon have the free postcards all over the island. Ah gorn! Happy Sunday all.

Do the majority of us only pay lip service to our National Anthem,around November?

We loyal sons and daughters all
do hereby make it known
These fields and hills beyond recall
Are now our very own
We write our names on history’s page
With expectations great
Strict guardians of our heritage
Firm craftsmen of our fate

Quoting Rowe “It was very cold, don’t care what you put on,” Rowe said.”

It is never freezing cold in Barbados and it is certainly never so in mid-March. On the same night Ms. Rowe claimed to be frezing col when fuly clothed is was possible to slep naked with the wondows open in BArbados, and not be uncomfortable.

Jamaica is several hundred miles north of Barbados and is therefore several degrees cooler all year round, and even cooler in the highlands. Jamaican are therefore used to cooler temperatures.

Therefore a Jamaican who claims to be freezing in Barbados in mid-March when fully clothed has to be lying.

The lowest temperature experienced in Barbados in mid-March is about 73 degrees F. Tell me Rowe to explain to us how she could freeze fully clothed in an enclosed room when the outdoor temperature was 73 degrees F, and mind you the temperature only remains at 73 for about 2 hours between 2 and 4 in the morning

Is she perhaps suggesting that that Barbados government tortures by air conditioning?

Has Ms. Rowe overstayed anyplace else?

Has Ms. Myrie?

The tree want cutting down. What is the big deal. i pay alot of money in road tax and such a silly tree shouldnt stop the road widening programme or make taxpayers fork out more millions just to save a tree.
If this tree is cut down, what will die? nothing. nonsense talk about species under teh canopy. not in the gas polluted warrens area
Cut it down. Motorists have rights also. Damn tree got more rights than a mortoist whose insurance and road tax are paid. mekking sport.

being a tree. ppl urinating on you especially men, defecating on you. cutting things into your bark. i wont mind bing a tree if only women urinated on me. ahhhhhhhh. golden shower and i get a peek.

Agyeman Kofi March 28 at 7:49pm Reply • Report

As a student of Kellonomic, I have always being taught that creativity and innovation provides the competitive edge. Thus the below recommendation is being made to engage government while challenging technocrats to think outside the box for the sake of present and future generations!

Centennial Passage Tourism Proposal

Why cannot the whole area where the Sandbox and Boab tree are located be called Centennial Passage. A promenade similar to Lears with an Arch can be developed which can complimented by the mystique of Sandbox and Boabab trees. We are unto something as a true tourist at…traction if we can convince Mr Pandor. Image if we promote Centennial Passage as place where you can go and make a wish for longevity playing on the mystique of the two trees. How much money would this bring in tourist dollars over a 10 year period? Lets put together a proposal to Government as they may be open to ideas.   Barbados has the third oldest living centenarian and that apart from the island of Okinawa in Japan, Barbados has more centenarians per capita than any other region on earth. Thus lets have Centennial Passage where a monument can be erected and names of those who reach that ripe old age is inscribed. We can then market it s a tourist attraction where persons can go and make a wish for long life. So we would have a beautiful area that will cost more money but will be a tourist attraction and will be unique as a Barbados unique tourist attraction. In addition its has long term economic  benefit plus the government can justify the additional money spent as stimulus money for the economy. Suggestion needed!   Anybody know John Boyce and Richard Sealy`s email address?

By:Agyeman Kofi

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